Willow Elliot: new nominee
Willow Elliott chose Sauvie Island as a community to be involved in back in 2008. She loves to volunteer with the West Mult. Soil & Water District to eradicate invasive plants, does monitoring of Great Blue Heron rookeries on the North end for Portland Audubon Society and has been known to recycle as much of the All-Island Annual Picnic waste as possible! She brings a background of serving on non-profit Boards and finding grant money for vital historic preservation projects of old buildings. Her day job is a Commercial Property Management assistant in NE Portland with her family’s business, Elliott Associates Inc., which has been an award winning 100 Best Green Companies to Work For in Oregon several years running.
John Houle: up for re-election
I have lived 20 years at 16600 NW Gillihan Road, Sauvie Island, OR 97231. Our property is nine acres and fronts on the Willamette River. We raised our two daughters on the Island. My wife Marcy and I continue to call this our home. We have sheep, sell locker lamb and grow a variety of fruit, vegetable and products for personal use. I work at the City of Portland as a Civil Engineer and am a member of the SIFD #30. Living on Sauvie Island, I have come to appreciate its bounty and the opportunities this provides to farmers, residents, recreationalists and wildlife who use and enjoy the Island. I have also come to recognize that any discussion about the current and future state of the Island must consider its character and infrastructure. I would like to offer my time and experience to be involved in the discussions about the Island and its future. The issues are many and finding solutions will be challenging. I would like to be part of this on-going conversation with my neighbors and those others who love and appreciate this Island.
Sandra Kruger: up for re-election
Sandra Kruger was born and raised in Oregon. She spent her youth backpacking, river rafting and camping with her family throughout the state. They were members of the Oregon Archeological Society and participated in several Native American digs on Sauvie Island. She attended the University of Chicago in the early 80?s and received a degree in behavioral science. She moved back home to Oregon in 1994, landed a job at the Oregon Historical Society and was in charge of planning the Wintering In Harvest Festival at Bybee Howell. She worked hard to involve the island in the fair, which Kruger’s Farm took over when OHS decided they could no longer be involved. Sandra and her husband, Don, own and operate Kruger’s Farm on the island. It is a working farm of 150 acres (75 owned, 75 leased) – where they grow berries, pumpkins, squash, zucchini, lettuce, peppers, beans, flowers, etc. – almost all which are sold through the farm stand directly to the public. As a land-owner and farmer who is working to make a living from her land, she brings a vital perspective to the Association. Sandra has worked in professional roles at the Oregon Historical Society and Multnomah County Library, and is currently chairing the Skyline School Auction. She brings many skills to the table. She is a leader, has a great sense of humor, is able to transcend her own viewpoint and offer creative and innovative solutions to issues. She is specifically interested in working to continue to expand the Sauvie Island Community Association’s membership to include representation from more of the island community. She has two children, 11 and 8, who attend Skyline School.
Phil Sperr: new nominee
Born in Rochester, NY, I lived in many places throughout the US as I worked for Eastman Kodak. Retired. I’ve been an Oregonian for 23 years and have lived on Sauvie Island with my wife for 13 years. We have four children, seven great grand childre, and four Labrador Retrievers. Our delight, besides grandchildren, is training our dogs to retrieve well. Before retirement I was involved in the Hillsboro Chamber & the Business Education Compact. My last job was General Manager of manufacturing at Solectron in Hillsboro for ten years. I enjoy hunting and recently served on the State and Sauvie Island committees dedicated to reasserting places to train dogs within the state.